Alonzo walked along the street feeling rather ashamed of himself. He hadn't expected her of all queens to like him, of all toms. Queens. He shook his head and smiled at his now ridiculous situation, which would all go to custard once he told her, and she would get mad at him and stop talking to him for a month or so ... just like the last one. As to why she liked him, the answer managed to escape his mind as he thought of all the things he did to stop this from happening again: the purposely awkward start, the loud bar that she obviously felt uncomfortable in, the really obvious flirting with the bar tender and checking out of the waitresses, the even louder night club ... and she still ended up struck by one of damnable Cupid's arrows.

Meanwhile, Cassandra couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. She danced around her flat, grande-jetés, cabrioles and even managed to remember her temps de flèche exercise from grade seven. Her flat-mate smiled over the top of her book as Cassandra bounded up the stairs and cartwheeled into the lounge.

"Someone's happy" Tantomile smirked, as she observed the unusual behavior.

"My dance partner's an absolute dream!"

"...And a one and a two and a three and a four! And a one..." Skimbleshanks barked at the dancers who were already working to their maximums. Already one of the non-main swans had passed out and had been dragged onto a mat in the corner – she wouldn't be getting much pay this week. Skimbleshanks was a little happier when it came to Alonzo and Cassandra's pas de deux, it had more passion and felt more at ease than when Alonzo danced with Victoria. Skimble didn't say anything when Alonzo had 'left the stage' and Cassandra was left to her solo routine that finished with twenty four fouette turns, on pointe of course. All she was trying to do was catch Alonzo's eye again, and it seemed to be working.

At lunch break she sat with her group of friends and ate her food in silence, not really paying attention to their conversation, but dreaming and occasionally glancing at Alonzo, who was chatting and laughing with some of the other toms. Charisma just seemed to leak out of him all over the blank paper that was her heart. Perhaps she might have been ahead of herself – it was just one little outing of which she was drunk for most of, but the love was still real.

Alonzo couldn't help but notice Cassandra looking over at him every so often, every minute of it made him bad. Afterwards he decided to hang out with her again, intending to tell her his issue. She involuntarily gave him a huge grin when he asked, and it made him smile too. They walked down the road to the theatre to see what other productions were on presently.

"Le Grande Cirque, that sounds fun!" Alonzo smiled brightly, "Before I wanted to be a ballet dancer, I wanted to run away with the circus" He said, smiling at the fond memory.

"Is that so?"

"Yep. I used to attempt the tight rope, and the trapeze. It never worked because the knots in the rope I used would always unravel" He laughed a sad sort of laugh the kind that drifts off into distant thoughts, and then promptly moved towards the next poster.

"Well, I reckon you'd look funny in all those hats and face paint anyway" Cassandra smiled, trying to break the awkward silence.

"Oh but that's the best part! And don't forget the pink and green polka-dot tights!" They looked at each other and burst into a fit of giggles at the ridiculous thought.

They walked out of the Theatre foyer and continued down the street to a small cafe on the corner of the block. They each got a coffee and sat down at one of the tables outside.

"Next week we have costume fittings! Isn't that going to be exciting?" Cassandra beamed

"It will, and the week after is the photo shoot for the ads, posters, tickets and programs..." He grinned.

"That's my favourite part"

"Mine too" Alonzo agreed and they smiled at each other, looking into the eyes of the other and becoming more familiar with each iris pattern. Cassandra leant in, but was stopped abruptly by a tall black tom with an over grown, wild mane that slammed his hand down on the table.

"Alonzo! I thought I'd find you here" He smiled an obviously practiced tv smile and exchanged a special hand shake with the said tom. He whipped around, the curious curl that hung over his forehead bounced with the action. "Oh where are my manners! Hello darling – I'm the Rum Tum Tugger, but you can just call me Tugger" He raised an eyebrow and touched his finger under her chin suggestively. "and who would this lovely young queen be?" He turned to Alonzo, Cassandra blushed.

"I'm Cassandra, it's nice to meet you ...Tugger" to which he gave her a broad smile. Alonzo rolled his eyes with a knowing smirk and tipped the rest of his coffee down his throat.

"Alonzo, the boys and I need you for the meeting"

"What meeting?"

"You know what I mean!" He turned to Cassandra "Awfully sorry Sweetie"

"Damn. Sorry do you mind if I go? It is quite important"

"Not at all. I'll uh... see you tomorrow then?"

"Uh, yeah – Oh and don't forget to practice that step that Skimble was unsure of!" Alonzo smiled at her as he got up to leave.

"Bye" Cassandra said after him as he waved.

"Do we absolutely have to do this now?" Alonzo asked the Maine Coon,

"Of course we do! And you were about to kiss her anyway" Tugger pulled him along faster.

"She was about to kiss me" he corrected.

_
AN: Sorry it took so long to update!
Pretty please review?